Thoughtful recommendations for everyday living
HearthlineHearthline

An independent editorial publication · Volume III · Est. 2023

As an Amazon Associate, Hearthline earns from qualifying purchases. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Long-term review — workspace

Two and a Half Years With a Single Notebook

A Midori MD Paper notebook entered the desk in October 2023. It is now nearly full.

By Soren Vega·Reviewed by Imogen Hale·Published 18 October 2023·Last reviewed 2026-05-08

How this piece was assessed

Format
Long-term review
Reviewed by
Soren Vega — Staff Writer, Workspace
Fact-checked by
Imogen Hale — Editor-in-Chief
Evaluation
Real-world use over months or years. Hearthline does not lab-test or instrument-bench products. Read our methodology.
Review date
18 October 2023
Last reviewed
2026-05-08

Notebooks tend to be evaluated when new and abandoned mid-volume. That makes most reviews unhelpful: the experience that matters is page 200, not page 20.

Our writer began this Midori in October 2023 and is currently on page 168 of 176. It has travelled, weathered coffee, survived two house moves, and absorbed roughly half a million words of fountain-pen ink.

We first published this piece in October 2023 and have revisited the recommendation through 2026-05-08. What follows reflects what survived that review window — the observations we still stand behind, the caveats worth knowing before purchase, and the small ways the piece has aged in ordinary use.

The summary

Paper choices are the most under-considered part of a desk. The Midori MD has been our writer's only notebook since launch — long enough to say something useful about how it ages.

In its favour

  • Paper handles fountain-pen ink without significant feathering or bleed.
  • Cover ages well — visible wear, no structural failure.
  • Lay-flat binding still works at page 168.

Where it falls short

  • Plain cover requires personalisation for those who like a styled notebook.
  • Ruled lines are darker than some readers prefer.
  • Available only in a small number of paper colours.

Who it's for

  • — Fountain-pen users who actually fill notebooks.
  • — Anyone who keeps a single working volume rather than rotating.

Who should skip it

  • — You prefer thick, marker-friendly paper.
  • — You require an integrated pocket or elastic closure.

Buying guidance

  • Stock one spare; the supply is reliable but not instant.
  • Pair with a Lamy or Pilot fountain pen; ballpoints work but underuse the paper.
  • Use the included page-marker thread — the binding does not flag pages on its own.
  • Plan for the trade-off most new owners only notice in the second month: plain cover requires personalisation for those who like a styled notebook. It is workable, but it is easier to design around at the point of purchase than to discover afterwards.
  • Take the second caveat above seriously when comparing across price tiers — ruled lines are darker than some readers prefer. The cheaper alternatives in the category usually share the same limitation, so paying more rarely solves it.

Alternatives we considered

  • Leuchtturm1917 A5 Hardcover

    More features, slightly heavier paper, slightly thinner ink performance.

    Explore Similar Choices

  • Rhodia Webnotebook A5

    Comparable paper, less classic styling.

Reader questions

Will fountain-pen ink show through?
Slightly visible from the reverse, never an obstacle to writing on both sides.
How long does a single notebook last in daily use?
For our writer at roughly two pages per day, the answer is about two and a half years.
How does Midori MD Notebook A5 Lined hold up over time?
3 years of ownership has produced no failures we would consider disqualifying. The wear patterns are visible — that is true of anything used daily — but the piece continues to do the work we bought it for. We last revisited the recommendation on 2026-05-08, and the verdict held.
What maintenance does it actually need?
Most of the upkeep is preventative rather than corrective. Follow the manufacturer's care notes for the first six months; after that, the routine you settle into matters more than the one printed on the box. The "Where it falls short" column above flags the specific points worth being attentive to.

Editorial verdict

The single notebook we have recommended without revision since the publication launched. Buy one — and a spare.

Update history

  1. 2026-05-08Reviewer revisited the recommendation against current alternatives; the verdict held with minor copy refinements.
  2. 2026-04-10Editorial maintenance pass: cross-checked alternatives for stock status, validated FAQ against current reader correspondence, and re-confirmed recommendation with the desk editor.
  3. 2025-01-26Short check-in revisit; no changes to the verdict, two minor copy corrections logged.
  4. 2023-10-18Initial publication after the reviewer's testing window concluded.

Written by

Soren Vega

Staff Writer, Workspace

Soren writes about the objects on, around, and under the desk. Previously a product designer at a stationery house in Tokyo.

Edited & fact-checked by

Imogen Hale

Editor-in-Chief

Imogen spent eleven years at trade publications covering domestic design and materials before founding Hearthline. She edits the publication's reviewing standards and oversees fact-checking across every desk.

Related reading

From the same shelf